Fire-escape



A(No Model.)

T. MACDONOUGH.

PIRE BSGAPE.

No. 286,456, Patented-0015.951883.

Il f uml umuumlnmlnnlll! tilhilll UNITED 'STATES rHoMns MnonoNouen, OEBENTON, oHEEoYeAN OOUNTY, MronreAN.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 286,456, dated October9, 1883,

Application filed May 14, 1883. (No modell To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be itknown' that I, THOMAs MAoDoNoUGH, of the township of Benton, in thecounty of Gheboygan and State of Michigan, have invented a new andImproved Mode of Fire-Es cape; and I do hereby declare that thefollovv-V ing is a full and exact description thereof, referenee beinghad to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of referencethereon.

My invention relates to improvements in fire-escapes, and the novelfeatures thereof Will be hereinafter pointed out in the claim.

The object of my invention is to produce a fire-escape which maybelowered from an upper Window, and when lowered may be partiallycontrolled vfrom below.

In the drawings forming partlof this specification, Figure 1 is aperspective view of the upper portion oi' my device in place in aWindow. Fig. 2 is a side view, and Fig. 3 aplan, of my pulley-block;Fig. 4 is an elevation, and Fig. 5 an end view, of Windlass.

The barrel of Windlass a has its journals in the frame or easing of anupper Window. This barrel may be turned by spokes b, and held fromturning by a 'pand-engaging ratchet, d. Attached to the barrel of theWindlass are two or more Wires orI chains, l 2 3. These Wiresy may beWound up by turning the wi-ndlass, so that they shall be wound upon thebarrel, or may be lowered, so as to extend from the'window to theground. A pulley-block, e, preferably having a malleable-iron frame,carries three sheaves, e e e. The wires l 2 pass throughpthe block inContact with the sheaves. The wire 3 passes through a loop at the side'of the block, as shown, when it is found neo-V essary to employ morethan two Wires;

This

Wire 3 serves as an additional guide to the pulley-block or traveler c.The block c has loops or eyes g ateach end, through which loops thesupporting-Wire [L is rove, and to this Wire a chair, basket, or corsetmaybe attached, so that apperson may find safe support.

The operation of the device is as follows: Thewires l and 2, beingpassed through the block, may be secured to stakes some little distanceapart near the base of the building, or may be held by two persons, theupper ends being always attached to the Windlass. Then, as the Wires areslackened, so that they come nearer together, the traveler Will rundown. By tightening the windlass when the Wires are spread apart at thebottom, or by spreading these Wires, the traveling pulleyblock Will becarried up to or near the windlass. The Wire 3, passing through a loop,as

shown, serves as an additional support, and

can be used to hold the entire device some little distance away from theWall of the building.

I am aware of patent to Chandler, November 8, 1864, and claim nothingtherein shown.

, What l claim isn The Windlass a, mounted in the Window, as shown,having supportingwires secured thereto, said Wires passing through apulley-block of the character described, having sheaves and guidewaysfor at least two Wires, being provided with a support, as h, all theparts being combined and arranged substantially as shown and described.

THOMAS MACDONOUGH. Witnesses:

HENRY H. SAUNDERS, JAMES J. BROWN.

